Friday, January 18, 2013

Cheese bread // Pão de queijo

These cheese rolls are a traditional recipe from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Instead of the regional cheese, which I don't have easy access to, I used grated parmesan.

Bring 150ml of milk and 75ml of vegetable oil to a boil. Put 250g of sweet manioc powder in a bowl and a pinch of salt and little by little add the liquids and mix everything with your hands (to help you, cover them in vegetable oil).

You'll need 2 eggs and 50g of grated parmesan cheese for the next step. Add 1 egg, mix, add about 25g of the cheese, mix again, add the other egg and finally the remaining cheese.

Shape little rolls of the mixture and place them on a tray with greaseproof paper. This will make about 10 rolls - or more, depending on the size you choose to make them. Bake them for 20-25 minutes to 180ºC.

I love the subtle cheese after-taste.

This is great as a snack, so here's my suggestion: spread some of the blackberry extra jam with hazelnut and nutmeg I mentioned here on half of one roll. That will be your flower. Draw the stem with chocolate sauce. Add some tangerine segments for a fresher, sweeter note. Dip them in the chocolate. You can thank me later.

Do you know that feeling when you bake something and then when you open it you go all "Houston, we have a problem?" Frankly, I was like all those people at Nasa raving about the success of a mission when I opened the first cheese roll. You never know what to expect, no matter how many times you do it, do you?